Super Bowl TV deals likely to be scarce

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. shoppers hoping to find deals on big-screen TVs in time for the Super Bowl may have less success than in years past, industry analysts said.

Retailers probably won't have as many sets on hand compared with previous years, and deep price cuts will be harder find, they said.

Shoppers "will see a lot of advertising," Paul Gagnon of DisplaySearch told USA Today. "But I don't know that the deals (will) be especially stellar."

Analysts say the main reason is strong 2011 holiday TV sales, which contrasted to a year ago when stores had a surplus of unsold sets and cut prices in January to make room for arriving 2011 models.

"A lot of consumers took advantage of those spectacular Black Friday prices and bought sets that they might have waited a little longer on," Gagnon said.

Retailers will be discounting fewer older models and concentrate on selling coming 2012 models -- most with improved smart-TV apps and better picture quality -- at full price, he said.

Still, willing buyers eager to purchase a new TV before Super Bowl kickoff should be able to find something to their liking.

"It actually drives a lot of large-size TV sales traditionally, because everyone is thinking of inviting everyone over," John Schindler of TV manufacturer Vizio said.